# NTSB LAX01LA189: Bellanca 7GCBC, N86727, Reno, NV, May 20, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 20, 2001, 12:20 local (19:20 UTC) - Place: Reno, NV - Coordinates: 39.90945, -119.680564 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9094&lon=-119.6806&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flt Standards Dist Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 52350 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA189 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52350/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA189 ## Probable cause Failure of the left main landing gear axle due to an improper weld repair. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - roll - landing gear,axle - fractured (cause) - maintenance,major repair - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command ## Analysis The left main landing gear axle fractured and collapsed during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop and substantial damage to the gearbox. The axle fractured in the vicinity of a weld. An entry in the airplane's logbook indicated that the airplane had sustained a hard landing about 15 years prior to this accident. The entry stated that maintenance technicians inspected the axle using the dye penetrate method. No logbook entry noted that the axle had been changed. The manufacturer's representative inspected the axle and reported that several items did not conform to the type design. The manufacturer's representative concluded that the axle had been cracked and rewelded, and the weld did not conform to specifications. The weld at the base plate had a larger radius than specified, which resulted in a flat surface that was insufficient to allow proper seating of the heads of the bolts that mounted the wheel to the axle. The manufacturer's representative felt the axle failed in the weld heat affected zone due to improper repair. ## Factual narrative On May 20, 2001, about 1220 Pacific daylight time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, N86727, ground looped on landing at the Stead Airport, Reno, Nevada. Aero Ways, Inc., was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal cross-country flight departed Susanville, California, about 1145. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot stated that he departed Stead earlier that morning to drop off a passenger at Susanville. The airplane was difficult to land, but he did not try to determine the cause of the problem. On the return to Stead, the left main landing gear axle fractured and collapsed during the landing roll. The airplane ground looped resulting in substantial damage to the gearbox. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) accident coordinator noted that the fracture was in the vicinity of a weld. The accident coordinator noted an entry in the airplane's logbook, which indicated that the airplane had sustained a hard landing about 15 years prior to this accident. The entry stated that maintenance technicians inspected the axle using the dye penetrate method. The accident coordinator found this unusual since the axle was steel. He did not find an entry, which noted that the axle had been changed. He assumed that the axle was original equipment and had the same total time as the airplane, which was 4,176 hours. The accident coordinator sent the axle to the manufacturer (American Champion Aircraft Corporation) for examination. The manufacturer's representative reported that several items did not conform to the type design. The weld at the base plate did not conform to the specifications of drawing 2-1917 Rev. D, which specified a fillet weld radius of 0.0625 inches rather than the measured 0.125 inches. The drawing also noted that a flat surface of 0.56-inch diameter should have been maintained around each bolthole on the axle. The manufacturer's representative said they required this flat surface in order for the bolt head to sit flush to the mounting surface when the wheel was mounted to the axle. He said the larger radius of the weld would not allow this. The manufacturer's representative concluded that the axle had been cracked and rewelded, and the weld did not conform to specifications. He felt the axle failed in the weld heat affected zone due to improper repair. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N86727](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N86727), registered now, S/N 656-74, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bellanca 7GCBC - Registry model: [Bellanca 7GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7gcbc) (registry code 1220601) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-A2D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-a2d) (registry code 42103, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 656-74 - Airframe hours: 4176 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Aero Ways, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, March 9, 2001, 19 hours before - Departed: SVE, SUSANVILLE, CA - Destination: 4SD, RENO, NV - Airport: 4SD, Reno/Stead ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 10, 1999; seat: front; flight hours: 306 total, 92 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: RNO, 11 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010520011149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010520011149A), May 20, 2001: Bbavia 7GCBC, Reno, NV, Substantial damage. (.19)On may 20, 2001, about 1220 hours pacific daylight time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, N86727, sustained substantial damage when the left main landing gear axle… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.